Overhead door construction



Dern 2, 1941. A. v Rowe 2,264,643

OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 9, 1.941E 4 Sheets-Sheet l I Je .50 Zz/56 nl l I /gg 'lll Il lll I Ulli lll. limi!| umili MURI lullig@ ""'lmu f' il: Zii In il! l1t |l z3 a nnw Wurm 11| In l l f l* l a Il: il?? Il l @www IM Y n ll l 1 l lllllmlii III l IWI Il Il y w34 .il g3 l l [H55 v i.

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OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mw@ w INVOR W/W f Xp.,

A. v. RowE OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Dec. 2, 1941.

Filed June 9, '1941 Dec. 2, 1941.

A. V. ROWE OVERHEAD DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed June 9, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OVERHEAD Doon CONSTRUCTION Alvin V. Rowe, Galesburg, lll., assiznor to Rowe Manufacturing Company, Galesburg, lll., a cor poration of Illinois Application June 9, 1941, Serial No. 397,255

(ci. .2o- 20) 8 Claims.

the vicinity of and extending outwardly beyond the curved portion. f

Still more specifically the invention contemplates an overhead door construction as set forth above wherein means is provided for selectively controlling the movement of track followers as they move between the vertical and horizontal track portions.

-It is an object of the present invention to .provide in association with a plurality of hingedly connected and shiftable door panels of the above mentioned type a switch mechanism for selectively connecting the vertical track portions with either of two track sections at the upper extremity thereof so as to enable the shifting of certain track followers-along the aforesaid'curved track and track followers associated with the bottom margin of the door along a, track section extending outwardly beyond said curved track section.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an overhead door construction wherein of single vertical tracks or guideways, as well as single horizontal tracks or guideways.

The foregoing and other objects and advantageswill be more apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the drawings, wherein:

. Fig. 1 'is a vertical sectional View taken transversely of a closed overhead door construction, said view being taken substantially along the line I-I of,.Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view corresponding with the structure in the upper left hand corner of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the links or arms of the toggle type switch mechanism used track;

4the aforesaid switch mechanism enables the use f in association with the yupper or horizontal track I portion;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detached track section which connects with and extends upwardly from the lower extremity of the curved track section;

Fig. 6-is a detailed sectional view showing the manner in which the outer extremities of the guide roller shafts clear the actuating arm of the toggle switch mechanism;

Fig. 7 1s a detailed sectional view similar to Fig. 6 disclosing the manner in which the `protruding extremity of the follower shaft carried at the bottom of the door structure operates to engage the actuating arm of the toggle switch mechanism associated with the lower extremity of the curved Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3 disclosing the uppermost door section partially shifted rearwardly to a position where the roller or track follower carried at the upper margin `thereof Operates to control the toggle switch mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 8 showing the lowermost door section entering the lower extremity of the curved track portion and functioning to actuatethe toggle switch mechanism in that vicinity;

Fig. 10 is a view similarl to Figs. 8 and 9 disclosing the door shifted to its uppermost or overhead position; s

Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the toggle switch mechanism and associated track structure for selectively controlling communication with the horizontal trackl portion;

Fig. 12 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially along the'line IiP-42` of Fig. 11 to more clearly illustrate the positions occupied by the track followers or rollers, said followers being designated by dotted lines;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the toggle switch mechanism and associated track structure employed to control selective communication with the vertical track portion; and

Fig. 14 is a detailed horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line I4-I4 of Fig. 13 to more clearly illustrate the structural arrangement of the toggle switch mechanism shown in Fig. 13 and the positions occupied by th track rollers.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate 'similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be noted that the overhead door construction shown herein bears similarity to the structure shown in my cpending application Serial No. 337,344, filed May 27, 1940, for Overhead door construction. In the aforesaid copending application a switch mechanism is shown which serves to selectively connect the upper or horizontal track section with one of two curved track sections. In said copending application a double vertical track arrangement is disclosed and hence there is no necessity for employing a switch mechanism for vthe vertical track structure. The present inventionfhowever, contemplates a switch mechanism for the vertical track structure and hence eliminates the necessity of a vertical double.

track arrangement.

The present invention contemplates an overhead door arrangement wherein a plurality of door sections or panels 26, 22, 24 and 26 are con.. nected along adjacent margins by suitable hinges 28. Each of these hinges 28 carries track followers or guide rollers 30 and will hereinafter be referred to as intermediate track followers or guide rollers. Such designation will be evident in the fact that the guide rollers 36 are intermediate the upper and lower margins of the door. Associated with the upper margin of the door, to-wit, the upper or free margin of the door section 26 at each side thereof is a guide roller 32. Similarly. a guide roller 34 is mounted in association with the bottom margin of the door at each side thereof, to-wit, the bottom or free margin of the lowermost door section 26. The rollers agencia terbalancing mechanism, it was not deemed necessary to illustrate in specic detail the structural features thereof. It will sufllce to say that any suitable counterbalancing mechanism may be employed. .Thus the upward pull of the cables 54 causes the upper rollers 32 to be guided and moved rearwardly within the curved side track section 48 toward the switch mechanism 62. The first of the intermediate rollers 36 as illustrated in Fig. 8 moves within the curved track portion 44. In this connection it is to be noted that a second toggle type switch mechanism designated generally by the numeral 66 is so positioned as to maintain communication or connection between the curved track section 44 and the vertical track section or portion 40.

As the upper guide roller 32 approaches the switch mechanism 52, said roller enters a chan 32 are carried by suitable brackets 36 and the rollers 34 are carried by suitable corner brackets 38.

The intermediate rollers 30 and the upper and lower rollers 32 and 34, respectively, cooperate with suitable track structures in guiding the movements of the sections 20-26 comprising the door between vertical door closing position and l open overhead position. In Fig. 1 the door sections occupy their normal vertical door closing position and in this position the intermediate rollers or track followers 36, as well as the lower rollers 34, rest within a vertical track portion 40. The upper rollers 32 rest within a vertical side track section 42 which is secured at its lower extremity to the outer surface of a curved track section 44. It will be seen from the disclosure in Fig. 5 that this side tracksection 42 is provided with an enlarged plate portion 46 at its lower extremity and it is this plate section 46 which is preferably welded to the web of the curved track section 44 as illustrated in Fig. 14. The upper extremity of the side track portion 42 is secured to and communicates with the forward extremity of a second curved side track section 48.. This curved track portion 48 is adapted for communication with a horizontal track portion 50 through the agency of a toggle type switch mechanism which I have designated generally by the numeral 52.

The door sections 20-26 are adapted to be shifted upwardly and rearwardly4 from the door closing position shownin Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, by the upward pulling action of a flexible lifting element or cable 54. One extremity of this flexible lifting element or cable 54 is secured 'at each side of the lower margin of the door section 26 as illustrated in Fig. l. The cable extends upwardly to a suitable sheave or pulley 56 and thence rearwardly to a suitable counterbalancing mechanism designated generally by the numeral 58.

Inasmuch as the invention is not concerned particularly with the structural details of the counnel 62 of a toggle arm or link 64, Fig. 4. As will be seen from the drawings, the left extremity of the link 64 is provided with depending ears 66 which are pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 68, Fig. 12. This shaft 68 extends through the ears and through a gusset plate 16 and is suitably secured to said gusset plate, as for example by means of a nut 12. At this point it will be understood that the gusset plate 10 is secured in a fixed position to the frame structure of the doorway, as for example to the header structure 14. The plate extends rearwardly from the header 14 and provides a mounting for the sheave 56 and the side track structure 48. A spring 16 encircles the stub shaft 12 and is so. disposed as to constantly urge the link or arm 64 upwardly toward the position shown in Figs. 3 and 11. One extremity of' the coil spring 16 rests against the fixed tread portion of the track 44 and the other against the bottom side of the switch arm 14.

The switch arm 14 has a pin and slot connection 18 with one extremity of a companion toggle or switch arm 60. The opposite extremity of this arm is pivotally secured at 82 to the web portion of the horizontal track structure 50. Thus as the roller 32 moves into engagement with the toggle or switch arm 64 said arm and its companion toggle arm 86 are moved downwardly into horizontal alinement as shown in Fig. 8. In this position the switch mechanism 52 establishes communication between the side track structure 48 and the horizontal track structure 50 and the roller 32 is free to move into said horizontal track structure. As soon as the roller 32 clears the arm 64, the aforesaid coil spring 16 causes said arm to automatically shift upwardly to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 11. In this position the switch mechanism 52 establishes communication or connection between the curved track portion 44 and the horizontal track vportion 50. As the intermediate rollers shift upwardly in response to the pulling action of the cable 54 they are guided from the vertical track portion 46 through the curved track portion 44 due to the fact that the switch mechanism 60, about to be described, is in a position which establishes communication or connection between these track portions. As they continue upwardly and rearwardly these intermediate rollers 30 pass from the curved track portion 44 into the horizontal track portion 50.

Attention is now directed to a projecting extremity 34a, Fig. 7, associated with each lower roller 34. This projection or extension 34a is provided with an annular groove 34h and as this groove approaches the switch mechanism 60 is it moved into association with the outer edge of a switch arm' 84 as'illustrated in Fig. '1.- This arm 84 is pivoted at 86 to` the web of the lower extremity of the curved track portion 44, and the opposite extremity of the arm 84, Fig'. 13, has a pin and' slot connection 88 with a companion switch or toggle arm 90. The opposite extremity of this arm 961s pivotally supported by a stub shaft 92 which in turn extends through an aperture 94, Fig. 5, of the plate portion 46 of the side track structure 42 and is secured in a fixed position within said aperture. A coil spring 96 the companion arm 84 toward the position shown by the switch mechanism 60 to establish communication or connection for the intermediate rollers 30 between the curved track portion 44 and the vertical track portion 40.

Continued upward movement of the door after the extension 34a associated with the roller 34 has moved into engagement with the switch arm 84, causes said arm and its companion switch arm or tread member 90 to be shifted into vertical alinement so as to occupy the position shown in Fig. 9. In this position the switch mechanism 68 connects the vertical track portion 40 with the vertical side track portion 42, the roller 34 thus moving along the surface of the switch member 90 into the guideway provided by the vertical side track portion 42. As soon as the roller 34 moves out of contact with the switch element S0, the aforesaid coil spring 96 automatically urges the switch members or arms 84 and 90 to the position shown in Fig. 13. When the door sections 20-26 reach the limit of their opening movement, the rollers 34 will occupy the position shown in Fig. 10 and thus the entire door structure will be positioned wellabove the lower margin of the header 14.

As the door sections 20-26 are urged from their open overhead position just described toward their vertical door closing position the roller 34 is again moved into engagement with the switch element 90, thus conditioning the switch mechanism 60 to .establish communicar tion between the upright side track portion 42 and the vertical track portion 56. It will also be understood that the intermediate rollers 30 will be guided from the horizontal track por- -tion48 into the curved track portion 44 because the switch mechanism 52, due to the action of the coil spring 16, occupies the position shown in Figs. 3 and 11. The intermediate rollers 30 are free from any substantial shaft projection as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 12 and hence do not interfere with or.engage the switch arm 80 or the switch arm 84. As the upper roller 32 approaches the switch arm 80, a projection 32a thereof having an annular groove 32h moves in' most 'portion of the vertical side track portion 42.

The ease with which hingedly connected door sections` may be shifted between vertical and horizontal positions is somewhat dependent upon the radius of the curved track portion. In other words, the greater the radius the less force is required to shift the intermediate track rollers between vertical and horizontal positions. In instances where no means is provided other than the conventional guideways for accommodating the track followers or rollers adjacent the upper and lower margins of the door, the radius' of the curved track portion is limited. I-Iowever, where applicants auxiliary guideway is provided extending beyond the curved portion of the track, as herein-described, the radius of said curved portion may be increased considerably over the radius of conventional curved track structures. I n Fig. 3 of the drawings this increased curvature which may be employed is designated by dot and dash lines. It will be noted that this increased curvature terminates at its lower` extremity in the vicinity of the uppermost intermediate roller 30 when said roller occupies the position shown in Fig. 3.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention contemplatesa novel and practical overhead door arrangement wherein track followers or rollers associated with the door sections may be selectively directed from a single vertical tack portion into one of two conf necting portions. By this arrangement 'the lowermost track followers or rollersare moved to a position above the lower margin of the header and the remaining rollers are free to be guided rearwardly within a horizontal track structure, the entire door being thus maintained in its open overhead position within a minimum amount of available head room.

It will also be apparent from the foregoing description that the yinvention contemplates overhead door structures wherein a plurality of switch mechanisms associated with each track structure serve to eficiently and selectively control the movements of the guide rollers. By employing the overhead door construction described herein the lower margin of the door is permitted to lie immediately beneath or adjacent the sheave wheel or other door lifting mechanism. That is to say, the side track arrangement having a smaller curvature than the other conventional curved track portion accommodates the track rollers associated with the upper and lower margins of the door whereas the larger track radius accommodates and permits free movement of the intermediate guide rollers.

Obviously changes in structural details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. An overhead door'gconstruction including a' door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected door sections for traversing a door opening and adapted to be shift-ed between vertical door closing position and open overhead position, track follower members disposed along opposite side margins of the door sections, certain of which are intermediate and others adjacent the upper and lower margins of said door, track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure including a horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical guideway, an intermediate curved guideway extending .between the horizontal and vertical guideways for accommodating said intermediate track followers of said door sections as they shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways, and a further guideway adapted for communication with said vertical guideway to accommodate a track follower member at the lower margin of said door, said vertical guideway being selectively connectable with said curved guideway and with said further guideway, and means positioned in the vicinity of the upper extremity of said vertical guideway and operable by movement of the door toward its open position for connecting said vertical guideway with said further guideway to accommodate said lowermost track follower.

2. An overhead door construction including a door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected door sections for traversing a door opening and adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and open overhead position, track follower members disposed along opposite side margins of the door sections, certain of which are intermediate and others adjacent the upper and lower margins of said door, track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure including a horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical single guideway, an intermediate curved guideway connecting the horizontal and vertical guideways for accommodating said intermediate track followers of said door sections as they shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways, and a further guideway adapted for communication with said vertical guideway to accommodate a track follower member at the lower margin of said door, said vertical guideway being selectively connectable with said further guideway, and means positioned in the vicinity of the upper extremity of said vertical guideway and operable by movement of the door toward its open position for` connecting said vertical guideway with said further guideway to accommodate said lowermost track follower.

3. An overhead door construction including a door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected door sections for traversing a door opening and adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and open overhead position, track follower members disposed along opposite side margins of the door sections, certain of which are intermediate and others adjacent Vthe upper and lower margins of said door, track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure including a horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical guideway, an intermediate curved guideway for accommodating said intermediate track followers of said door sections asthey shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways, and a further guideway adapted for communication with said vertical guideway to accommodate a track follower member at the lower margin of said door and adapted also for communication with said horizontal guideway to accommodate a track follower member at the upper margin of said door, said vertical and horizontal guideways being selectively connectable with said curved guideway and with said further guideway, means positioned in the vicinity of the upper extremity of said vertical guideway and operable by movement of the door toward its open position for connecting said vertical guideway with said further guideway to accommodate said lowermost track follower, and means positioned in the vicinity of the forward extremity of said horizontal guideway and operable by the movement of the door toward its closed position for connecting said horizontal guideway with said further guideway to accommodate said uppermost track follower.

4. An overhead door construction including a door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected door sections for traversing a door opening and adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and open overhead position, track rollers disposed along opposite side margins of the door sections and including track rollers intennediate the extremities of each side margin and a track roller adjacent an extremity of eachside margin, and track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure including a substantially horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical guideway. an intermediate curved guideway for accommodating said intermediate track rollers as they shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways, a further guideway atleast one end of which is adapted for communication with the other guideways for accommodating a roller adjacent the extremity of the side margin, at least one of said horizontal and vertical guideways being selectively connectable with either said curved guideway or said further guideway, and means including an element projecting from and forming an extension of the axis of the track roller adjacent the side margin extremities and operable by movement of the door in at least one direction for controlling the aforesaid selective connection.

5. An overhead door construction including a door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected door sections for traversing a door opening and adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and open overhead position, track follower members disposed along opposite side margins of the door sections, certain of which are intermediate and others adjacent the upper and lower margins of said door, track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure including a horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical guideway, an intermediate curved guideway extending between the horizontal and vertical guideways for accommodating said intermediate track followers of said door sections as they shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways, and a further guideway extending upwardly from said vertical guideway and thence rearwardly into association with said horizontal guideway, the track followers adjacent the upper and lower margins of said door being shiftable within said further guideway.

6. An overhead door construction including a door comprising a plurality of hingedly connected door sections for .traversing a door opening and adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and open overhead position, trackl follower members disposed along opposite 'side margins of the door sections, certain of which are intermediate and others adjacent the upper and lower margins of said door, track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure including a single horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical guideway, an intermediate curved guideway connecting the horizontal and vertical guideways for accommodating said intermediate track followers of said door sections as they shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways, and a further guideway extending upwardly from said vertical guideway the lower margin of said door being shiftable within said further guideway.

7. An overhead door construction including a door comprising an plurality of hingedly connected door sections for traversing a door opening and adapted to be shifted between vertical door closing position and openoverhead lposition, track follower members disposed along opposite side margins of the door sections, certain of which are intermediate and others adjacent the upper and lower margins of said door, track structures for guiding said door sections, each track structure` including a single horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical single guideway, an intermediate curved guideway for accommodating said intermediate trackfollowers of said door sections and for connecting said horizontal and vertical guideways, and a further guideway adapted for communication with said vertical guideway to accommodate a track follower member at .the lower margin of said door and adapted for communication with said horizontal guideway to accommodate the track follower member at the upper margin of said 8. An overhead door construction including a door comprising a plurality of hingedly coning and adapted to be shifted between 'vertical door closing position and open overhead position, track follower members disposed along opposite side margins o! the door sections and including track followers intermediate the extremities of each side margin and a track follower adjacent an extremity of each side margin. and track structures for guiding said door -sections,l each track structure including a substantially horizontal guideway, a substantially vertical guideway, an intermediate curved guldeway for accommodating said intermediate track followers as they shift between the vertical and horizontal guideways. a further guideway fcommunicating with said horizontal guideway Afor accommodating said follower adjacent the extremity of the margin, a shiftable switch mech*- anism for selectively connecting at least one of said horizontal and vertical guideways, with either said 'curved guideway or said further guideway, means for constantly urging said switch mechanism toward one of two positions,A

and means connected to the door and operable by movement of the door in at least one direction for shifting said switch mechanism to the other of saidpositions.

` ALW V. ROWE. 

